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Ukrainian soldiers describe what life is like in the trenches
A man has been arrested by counter-terror police on suspicion of spying in Britain for Russian president Vladimir Putin.
The suspect, in his 40s, was detained by the Metropolitan Police at Gatwick Airport in West Sussex on Monday evening.
The man was due to get an outbound flight when he was arrested, according to The Sun.
A Scotland Yard spokesman said: “We can confirm that officers from the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command arrested a man in his 40s at Gatwick Airport on Monday 13 June on suspicion of offences under Section One of the Official Secrets Act 1911.”
Meanwhile, Russia has said its missiles destroyed an ammunition warehouse for weapons donated by Nato alliance countries in Ukraine‘s western Lviv region.
The defence ministry said some of the ammunition was to be used for U.S.-produced M777 howitzers, a type of artillery weapon.
It comes as Putin’s top defence official told Ukrainian fighters trapped in Sievierodonetsk to “stop their senseless resistance and lay down arms”.
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Key Points Man arrested at Gatwick airport on suspicion of spying ‘for Putin regime’ Russia says it has destroyed warehouse for Nato weapons in Ukraine Putin’s troops tell Ukraine to surrender arms in Sievierodonetsk Donbas battle to decide domination of Russia or Ukraine, says Zelensky Defence ministers from nearly 50 countries to meet today to discuss Ukraine’s weapons
Show latest update 1655294122 Ukraine says Russia eyes a 'vast area from Warsaw to Sofia'
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy urged the European Union on Wednesday to let his country start on the road to membership of the bloc, warning that Russia‘s territorial ambitions stretched from Warsaw to Sofia.
In a speech to both chambers of the Czech parliament via a video link, Zelenskiy also called for more EU sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24.
“Russia is not interested only in our (cities of) Mariupol, Sievierodonetsk, Kharkiv and Kyiv. No, its ambitions are directed on a vast area from Warsaw to Sofia,” he said, without citing evidence for his assertion.
“As in the past, the Russian invasion of Ukraine is the first step that the Russian leadership needs to open the way to other countries, to the conquest of other peoples.”
The EU has adopted six rounds of sanctions against Russia, and Ukraine is seeking a seventh round to increase pressure on Russia to end the war.
The European Commission is expected to announce a decision on Ukraine‘s request for candidate status this week ahead of an EU summit next week. Having candidate status would be a preliminary step in a long process to accession.
“To grant Ukraine candidate status now is to prove that European unification is real and that European values a？？a？？really work and are not just indicated in certain documents,” Zelenskiy said.
He said the Czech people - following Nazi German occupation during World War Two and decades of Soviet domination after the war - knew how compromise ends and what comes of concessions to tyranny.
“The person who wants to seize everything will never stop at taking only part of what they want,” Zelenskiy said.
Maryam Zakir-Hussain 15 June 2022 12:55
1655292294 Chinese president tells Putin all sides should work to resolve Ukraine crisis
Chinese President Xi Jinping told Russian President Vladimir Putin during a phone call on Wednesday that all parties should work towards resolving the crisis in Ukraine “in a responsible manner,” Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported.
China has refused to condemn Russia‘s actions in Ukraine or call them an invasion, and has urged a negotiated solution.
In their call, Xi reiterated China’s willingness to help resolve the situation.
China and Russia have grown increasingly close in recent years, and in February, Putin and Xi signed a wide-ranging strategic partnership aimed at countering U.S. influence and said they would have “no ‘forbidden’ areas of cooperation”.
On Friday, Russia and China opened a new cross-border bridge in the far east which they hope will further boost trade as Moscow reels from sweeping Western sanctions imposed over its actions in Ukraine.
Maryam Zakir-Hussain 15 June 2022 12:24
1655290546 Death sentences of British fighters in Ukraine a warning to ‘soldiers of fortune’, Russia says
Death sentences handed down to British fighters by pro-Moscow seperatists should serve as a warning to “soldiers of fortune fighting for Ukraine”, Russia has said.
Aiden Aslin, 28, and Shaun Pinner, 48, were found guilty of taking action towards violent seizure of power at a court in the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) last week.
A third man, Moroccan national Saaudun Brahim, was convicted alongside them, Tom Barnes writes.
Speaking on Wednesday, Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said their sentences would set a “clear example to other soldiers of fortune fighting for Ukraine”.
UK fighters’ death sentences a warning to ‘soldiers of fortune’, Russia says Aiden Aslin and Shaun Pinner were convicted of acting as mercenaries in self-proclaimed Donetsk republic
Maryam Zakir-Hussain 15 June 2022 11:55
1655288593 Zelensky seeks tighter sanctions on Russia
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy urged the European Union on Wednesday to tighten sanctions on Russia, warning that Russian forces could attack other countries after invading his own country.
In a speech to both chambers of the Czech parliament via a video link, Zelenskiy reiterated calls for the EU to allow Ukraine to start on the road to membership of the 27-nation bloc by giving it candidate country status.
“As in the past, the Russian invasion of Ukraine is the first step that the Russian leadership needs to open the way to other countries, to the conquest of other peoples,” he said.
Maryam Zakir-Hussain 15 June 2022 11:23
1655286761 Kremlin says communication is essential in relations with U.S.
The Kremlin said on Wednesday that communication remains “essential” in relations with the United States, amid tensions over Russia‘s continuing war in Ukraine.
But Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters in a call that such communication could only be conducted on a basis of mutual respect and benefit.
Maryam Zakir-Hussain 15 June 2022 10:52
1655285269 Man arrested at Gatwick airport on suspicion of spying ‘for Putin regime’
A man has been arrested by counter-terror police on suspicion of spying.
The suspect, in his 40s, was detained by the Metropolitan Police at Gatwick Airport in West Sussex on Monday evening.
The man is accused of spying in Britain for Russian president Vladimir Putin and was due to get an outbound flight when he was arrested, according to The Sun.
My colleague Chiara Giordano has more:
Man arrested at Gatwick airport on suspicion of spying ‘for Putin regime’ Suspect, in his 40s, detained as he tried to leave the country
Maryam Zakir-Hussain 15 June 2022 10:27
1655285088 Up to 1,200 civilians may be in plant in eye of Ukraine battle, separatist says
Up to 1,200 civilians may be holed up in the shelters of the Azot chemical plant in the eastern Ukrainian city where one of the fiercest battles of the war has been raging between Russian and Ukrainian forces, a Russian-backed separatist said.
Russian forces are trying to grind down Ukrainian resistance in the eastern city of Sievierodonetsk, part of a wider push to drive Kyiv’s forces out of two separatist regions which Russia backs and has recognised as independent states.
Russian-backed separatists said Ukrainian forces sought to disrupt a humanitarian corridor out of the sprawling ammonia factory founded under Soviet leader Josef Stalin to a separatist-controlled town, the RIA news agency reported.
“About 1,000 to 1,200 civilians of Sievierodonetsk may still be on the territory of the Azot chemical plant,” Rodion Miroshnik, an official in the Russian-backed self-styled separatist administration of the Luhansk People’s Republic, said on Telegram.
Mr Miroshnik said the civilians are in part of the plant that is still controlled by Ukrainian forces, which he said numbered up to 2,000 people including Ukrainian and foreign fighters.
Ukraine says the number of civilians at the plant is closer to 500.
Maryam Zakir-Hussain 15 June 2022 10:24
1655283053 France's Macron: Ukraine President will have to negotiate with Russia at some point
French President Emmanuel Macron said on Wednesday that Ukraine would have to hold talks with Russia at some point, in order to try and bring an end to the war between the two countries.
“The Ukrainian President and his officials will have to negotiate with Russia,” said Macron, while on a visit to Romania and Moldova.
Macron arrived in Romania on Tuesday for a three-day trip to NATO’s southern flank including Moldova before possibly heading to Kyiv on Thursday on a visit with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, two diplomatic sources said.
Macron has been criticised by Ukraine and eastern European allies for what they perceived as his ambiguous backing for Ukraine in the war against Russia.
Maryam Zakir-Hussain 15 June 2022 09:50
1655282066 Russia says it has destroyed warehouse for Nato weapons in Ukraine
Russia has said its missiles destroyed an ammunition warehouse for weapons donated by NATO alliance countries in Ukraine‘s western Lviv region.
The defence ministry said some of the ammunition was to be used for U.S.-produced M777 howitzers, a type of artillery weapon.
Reuters was not able to independently verify the report.
Maryam Zakir-Hussain 15 June 2022 09:34
1655281005 Macron toughens tone on Russia before possible Ukraine visit
President Emmanuel Macron voiced a tougher line on Russia on Wednesday after visiting French and allied troops at a NATO base in Romania, seeking to assuage concerns in Ukraine and among some European allies over his previous stance towards Moscow.
Macron arrived in Romania on Tuesday for a three-day trip to NATO’s southern flank including Moldova before possibly heading to Kyiv on Thursday on a visit with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, two diplomatic sources said.
“We will do everything to stop Russia‘s war forces, to help the Ukrainians and their army and continue to negotiate,” he told French and NATO troops at a military base in Romania.
“But for the foreseeable future, we will need to protect, dissuade and be present,” he said.
Macron has in recent weeks repeatedly said it was vital not to “humiliate” Russia so a diplomatic solution could be found when fighting ended and he has continued to keep communication channels open with the Kremlin open, riling more hawkish allies.
France leads a NATO battle group in Romania of about 800 troops, including 500 French troops alongside others from the Netherlands and Belgium. Paris has also deployed a surface-to air missile system.
Maryam Zakir-Hussain 15 June 2022 09:16
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